Last year, the state closed all of the emissions test sites in a cost-cutting move, but that led some wondering if they can trust private auto shops.

"It's kind of scary, yeah," Debbie Eggert said.

Eggert said her family was unnerved when a state patrolman showed up at the door asking about her daughter's car.

"The place where she had her emissions done was being investigated for defrauding people in some capacity," Eggert said.

Eggert's daughter was just one of a list of people investigators believe got false results on their emissions tests at Toors Auto Service near Milwaukee's airport.

A search warrant says staff there told some customers they needed to fix their cars to pass the emissions test and that once they paid for the service, they passed.

But a camera hidden in the emissions machine showed those passing results came from testing a different car.

"So you never put the hose on a different car than the one you were reporting on?" WISN 12 News reporter Colleen Henry asked.

"No, and I was the one inspector, too, up here," said Sono Singh of Toor Auto Services.

"They say they have pictures," Henry said.

"I want to see the pictures," Singh said.

The state wouldn't comment on the case, saying it's still investigating but said there are many anti-fraud mechanisms built into the system. Still, Eggert said she prefers the old emissions testing, despite the lines.

"It was the government, and it wasn't some guy that I have to hopefully trust," Eggert said.

Faking emissions tests results carries a maximum sentence of six years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

To protect yourself, get a second opinion. You don't have to get service at the place that did your emissions tests.